authoritarian
n.n. demanding that people obey rules completely, without giving them any freedom to choose or question. You use this to describe a leader, government, or even a parent who controls everything.
n. favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom. Typically used to describe political systems, leaders, or parenting styles that suppress dissent and demand absolute compliance.
The country is ruled by an authoritarian government that bans all protests.
The new manager's authoritarian style made the team miserable, as she demanded strict obedience and refused to listen to anyone's ideas.
Critics warned that the emergency laws were a dangerous step toward an authoritarian state, granting the president unchecked power to silence political opponents and bypass the courts.
From authority + -arian, circa 1880.
Frequently collocates with political nouns such as 'regime', 'government', or 'state'.